Fadenrot!

More ideas for a project with Fadenrot... ;)

A Few of my favorite boards so far...

I have been working on a self-published book along with other projects and these are a few of my favorite storyboards so far...
Of course, they are pending approval ;)

Fadenrot!

Here is a new sketch I did for Fadenrot... "Miss Fadenrot"!  Still in the works... :)
Anyway, things are going to get busy!  I have storyboards due Friday, more sketches for Fadenrot, and soon a big book projects involving the little girl from previous posts!

:)

My mom had to put her kitty (a little siamese) Raffy put to sleep after having him for 13 years... This little guy was special.  He slept next to me when I was sick, purring the whole time, and he came when he was called.
I will miss him!

On the other note, he is now in peace- he had cancer so he was withering away.  RIP Raffy!

I do care quite a bit about animals and my pets... I always considered them as part of the family... mostly because they feel the same way!  :)

I am grateful for all the gifts I have been given in life... so I will keep on going and smiling!

Some character sketches for a current project...

Yes, Peter Rabbit was an influence here... :)  I even thought a bit about Gnomes...
Tons of fun!

Finished interiors for another book as well as the cover images...

and now off to do more work for Fadenrot!

;)
Happy Labor Day!

Adendum:

HA, too much like Peter!  Is what the client said... sigh.. I think the clothes definitely!
So it's back to the drawing board again!
:)

Transferring images....

Hello~

Anyone know of a printer that can print onto watercolor paper and it won't bleed?

Here's a sketch I did...

Which I painted...

Which I like... but I feel like transferring the image makes me lose a lot of the original sketch that I liked more.

Or maybe a sure-fire method to transfer onto watercolor paper?

:)

Any suggestions?

Revised Character Sketch

I think I liked her more before... but I did have fun painting this :)

A Week of Work, work, and....work!

Aside from pumping out purchase orders for our CRAZY Back-to-School Month at Art Supply Warehouse during the day, I have then been going home to work on another book project... which I'd love to post interiors of but have not yet had the ok! So far, a cover sketched, two interiors, and one spread done! I also did a dozen or so character sketches prior to this... I can't wait to be finished so I can post some images of this book!

Meanwhile, I just received an initial deposit to start working on another book for a Father-Daughter story. :) I finally get to paint some animals in this book! I'll have to ask if I can post images as they are completed.

Aside from this, I was approached to do a character study/sketch for a large book project as well... See below for my version of what I thought the character should look like:

I wish I could write a bit about the story as it is based on a true story! I wanted to cry drafting some of these images as it has a real tragedy involved with it as well... But it ends with hope!! :)

For those of you who are going or were thinking of attending, I am going to be going to the SCBWI Editor's Day in Fullerton on Sept 30-Oct 1st. :) I already have some new business cards and a brand new portfolio to put my printed images inside! Yikes! Its a bit pricey but I have not attended an SCBWI event in so long!!! I am pretty excited!!

Tomorrow I will be heading to my mother's house to babysit her three cats, two rats, five dogs (one pit bull, one shitzu, one dachsund-terrier mutt, and two teacup chihuahuas). I'm afraid... very afraid... :)

Wish me luck!

another design to die for....

I swear Chad Beckerman kills me...

In case the previous post wasn't enough... check out his blog and then you will understand why he is simply awesome.

He goes through the design of a new book, Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes!

:)

Click here!

Interview with Chad Beckerman...

Check this interview on childrensillustrators.com with Abrams Creative Director extraordinare Chad Beckerman! Click here!

Uncovered Cover Art

I received an email from Heidi Kellenberger regarding a new blog/wordpress site, Uncovered Cover Art!

I have decided to subscribe to this page- it's basically a site where people can submit their own versions of book-covers!

So far, the results are mouth-watering!

:)

So... anyone want to follow/submit as well?

;)

(ex: Artwork by Heather Ross, Inspired by The Princess and the Pea)

A Few of My Favorite Things...

These characters have always been so refreshingly alive to me and I've always loved them.

I am especially in love with Gigi and I think I have read Anne of Green Gables at least fifty times... I'm sure they are all recognizable?? except maybe Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady... I drew her when she was a flower girl and then when she's having to practice her vowels.

I might just have to paint one of these...

sketching...

So the summer heats seems to have turned off my brain... (I really need that Mary Blair poster to arrive now!!!!)

However!

I managed to sketch a bit. In-between projects and late at night... :)

I kept thinking of flopping into chairs ... or looking out a window... or reading... blowing bubbles... playing with water.... (can't explain the turtle neck)... can you tell I've got Summer-itice?

Does this ever happen? Your brain is off... but you want to draw... you can get as far as sketching... but there isn't that crazy... "Oooh, want to paint that one!" feeling??? I really hate this.. haha...

Well, the weekend is around the corner... so who knows, right? ;)

And I DO still have some more birthday money to spend...

HMMMM....

Mary Blair!

For those who don't know who Mary Blair is, click here and check her out!

I recently went to Disneyland and was able to view the Colors of Mary Blair Exhibit up-close!

Very impressive..

I was also able to use my B-day present giftcard to purchase a print of the Tomorrowland Mural concepts... :) It's the one on the bottom-right of this image below.

Isn't she wonderful?

I really think that with this hanging in my studio, I will feel truly inspired!

Back from New Mexico

I just got back from a 4 day Family Reunion in Albuquerque, New Mexico... :) Of course, the morning after our 16-hour drive, I was hit with a vertigo spell due to Labyrinthitis... (inflamation of the inner ear that throws off your sense of balance). Luckily, my older sister is a nurse and she gave me some meclizine (like a kind of dramamine). Anyway, still a bit dizzy, but feeling ok.

The trip was to see my Grandpa who is not feeling great as of late... although he seemed in good spirits with everyone around him. I'm glad I got to see him as I don't often get to... sometimes years between visits to see our relatives. I'm always a bit stunned at how awesome my extended family is, too. :)

Well, being back at home is nice, too.

:)

Here are some shots of our apartment and my relatively "new" workspace in Long Beach, not Portland. :)

I also was able to draw a bit. Here is a close-up of the sketch you can see on the desk.

I really should paint some new little paintings and get my submissions out for the summer! I uploaded some pictures... (you can see part of my calendar that I print every month and have scribbled in deadlines... this month hasn't filled up yet, but I'm hoping it will soon!).

Below is Josh on the computer with our two pugs napping in the summer heat... they just got baths... we turned off all the lights and have fans going to help keep their little bodies cool...♥♥♥

Interiors done!

Well, I finished the interior pages... but the cover remains!

:)

Painted this page last night...phew! I am tired!

Weee

some doodles in-between setting up paintings... ;)

I've been looking at a lot of different artists and noticing that there is a loose-ness that I wish more for my finished pieces... and maybe more chances for other textures... color pencil? Crayon? More sketchy work?

Well, that will have to be explored.

Ok, back to work!

;)

Yours Truly- the Cavity Witch!!(character owned and created by Julie Sullivan©2011)

Sleeeep!!!!

Ok...

well, here's another snippet!

:)

So far...

Here is a snippet of the poster I painted for Fadenrot...

I have still more paintings to work on for my client's book.... and the cover sketches!!!

Eep!

I am busy, busy!

I also turned 30 today!

;P

Yay!

Month of madness...

Soooo I am booked solid for the month!

This week I've been diving head-first into a book and this weekend, I'll be working on a poster for Fadenrot!

Lots and lots to do!!

The following weeks will be more pages for the book and hopefully other projects here and there from Fadenrot- my favorite client ever!!

But well, I really had fun painting this... what I am posting is only part of the picture... The main character and her pal on a typical day...before the plot thickens!!!

(I have to say the computer never quite captures watercolors... :( It's a little sad... I keep getting a bit of a neon quality to some colors... - any suggestions??)

Ahhh work... :)

More sketches... these are for the book I am working on for a client... ;)

So far so good!